Arsenal and Stoke’s former winger Jermaine Pennant says not even Lionel Messi could save Singaporean football after release

JERMAINE PENNANT has fired a parting shot at Singaporean football after it was announced he would leave local side Tampines Rovers.

The former Arsenal and Stoke winger is being released after refusing to cut his reported £23,495-a-month wages.

With the rest of the team having to take wage cuts, the club's chairman said it would be a 'social injustice' to keep paying 33-year-old Pennant at the same rate.

Krishna Ramachandra told AFP: "While the club could afford his wages, it would also send the wrong message to all the other players, who may have to take a pay cut, that one player is getting a super-scale salary."

However Pennant hit back, saying that not even Lionel Messi could improve Singaporean football.

The shortage of cash in the local game, and lack of government support, means football in the country will remain in the doldrums, according to Pennant.

He told the Straits Times: "No matter who you get, you could bring Messi here, yes, you'd attract fans but without money, and the government and the league helping out like they do with other sports, or what they do in other countries, it's not going to grow.

"If they don't do anything, football is always going to be in a comfort zone, not progressing."

Pennant was arguably the biggest signing in Singaporean history, but his Tampines Rovers side finished 1 point behind Albirex Niigata in the S-League.